Free Bible study

Many if not most of us have at one time or another worried about a "weight" problem. The bathroom scales keep showing numbers we wish were somewhat less. But my topic in this little piece is not a "weight" problem but a "wait" problem. Millions of people keep waiting instead of doing many things that ought to be done. Think with me about procrastination. Procrastination is defined as "the action of delaying or postponing something." It is the bad habit of intentionally putting off and not performing some task or responsibility that needs to be done. Like mowing the yard, cleaning the house, painting that spot on the house, cleaning up the garage, etc. Or maybe our "wait problem" actually has to do with our weight. We intend to eat less, or at least eat better, and exercise more, but instead we just keep "waiting" till tomorrow and putting these things off!

The Bible is direct about waiting when it comes to urgent matters of the soul. The Good Book still declares in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Regarding the best time to obey the gospel and be saved, God’s clock shows only one time – NOW! Since 1878 George F. Root’s powerful gospel hymn has been asking, "Why do you wait, dear brother, O why do you tarry so long?" – and, further, "Why do you wait, dear brother? The harvest is passing away; Your Savior is waiting longing to bless you: There’s danger and death in delay" (verses 1a and verse 4 "Why do You Wait?"). Why would anyone risk their soul by waiting to get right with God? Do you know anyone who is waiting to believe in Jesus Christ, and waiting to repent and be baptized into Christ’s death for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:28)? And how about the church? How long will we wait before we take the gospel to our lost world, not only to those across the country or ocean, but to those across the street or the back yard or maybe even across the dining room table from us every day? Some Christians ought to ask themselves, how long do I intend to go on deliberately putting off being more faithful to worship assemblies, or praying, or unplugging from the cell phone and TV and computer in order to seriously listen and see what Almighty God has to say as I read and meditate on His word? Or how long am I going to wait before I come back to my first love and do the works for Christ I used to do before I tuned out, turned off, and cooled down in my love and devotion to Jesus Christ and His church (see Revelation 2:4-5)? The Roman governor Felix had a golden opportunity to get right with God after the apostle Paul shared the gospel with him. So convicted was he of facing God’s judgment that he "trembled!" But, alas, he had a "wait" problem and put off obeying Christ until he could find a more "convenient time" (Acts 26:24-25). Apparently, he never found it because, so far as the Bible record goes, he never obeyed the gospel.

Jesus Christ was not a procrastinator. He declared, "I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4). A Bulgarian proverb says, "Seize the opportunity by the beard, for it is bald behind." Remember – "behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Solve that "wait problem," friend. Tomorrow may be too late.

            – Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN